Facts About Modern Dance Every Dance Lover Should Know

Modern dance can be traced back to the '00s.

It has its origin in the United States of America and Europe. The credit for introducing this new genre of art form is given to Isadora Duncan.

Modern dance was an act of defiance against the stiff norms of the two prevalent dance forms of that time, namely ballet and vaudeville. However, you can still find some similarities between modern dance and ballet companies. Modern dance promoted the idea of the freedom of body movement to express the emotions and moods of the dancers.

There was no use of structured steps, which was quite common in ballet. The two pioneers of the modern style of dance in Germany were Mary Wigman and Rudolf Von Laban.

In the United States of America, on the other hand, the credits go to Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, and Loie Fuller. Michael Jackson, Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, Gene Kelly, and Rudolf Nureyev are among the many famous modern dancers.

History Of Modern Dance

Before learning what the modern style of dance refers to, you need to have a basic overview of the reasons why this new genre of art form was developed. It all started in the '00s when a group of female dancers wanted to break free from the rigid rules of classical ballet.

This specific dance form originated in the United States of America during the late 20th century.

Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, and Loie Fuller are given the credits for introducing this modern dance style. The modern dance style is all about the natural body movements of the performers. Unlike traditional ballet, there are no strict or rigid rules; modern dance promotes a more relaxed and freestyle body movement.

Modern dancers often performed in bare feet, and there was no specific costume. It was a way of self-expression in the most natural state. With the growth of modern dance, many similar dance competitions were organized, and it was indeed a very bold change in the dance world.

Early Modern Dance In Europe

The origin of modern dance can be traced back to the United States of America and Europe in the late 19th century. The two pioneers of the modern style of dance in Germany were Mary Wigman and Rudolf von Laban.

Be it in the United States of America or Europe, the driving force behind the introduction of this freestyle dance form was to break away from the constraints of classical ballet. Martha Graham, Mary Wigman, and Rudolf von Laban, among others, all promoted the value of self-expression.

You can still find similarities between modern dance companies and ballet companies. Perhaps the main difference is that there is no hard and fast rule that you have to follow in this professional dance. Nor is there any particular costume that a performer needs to wear. Performing in bare feet is still a common practice in modern dance.

Rudolf von Laban set up his school in Munich in 1910. Mary Wigman was one of his students. Much later, in 1920, Mary founded her school in Dresden and went on to become the most influential person in this field.

Post-Modern Dance & Contemporary Dance

The defiance of the rigid norms of classical ballet led to the growth of modern dance. What followed after can be defined as post-modern dance. There is no specific approach to post-modern dance. It involves the freestyle and the emotions of the dancers that are expressed through their body movements.

The post-modern dance evolved as a way of storytelling. The notable persons of post-modern dance are mainly Paul Taylor and Merce Cunningham. Post-modern dance is also sometimes referred to as 'abstract dance.'

Contemporary dance was largely influenced by other dance forms like lyrical dance, modern dance, and even jazz. Although, at first glance, modern dance and contemporary dance might seem the same to you, however, it is not so.

Contemporary dance is a type of concern dance. It is an extended part of modern dance and ballet. Contemporary dance is all about expressing emotions and communicating with the audience.

Famous Modern Dancers

Modern dancers have revolutionized the way dance was viewed in the early 20th century. Some of the famous modern dancers who have been the forerunners behind this revolution include Michael Jackson, Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, Gene Kelly, and Rudolf Nureyev, among many others.

Even after 13 years of this death, the legacy of Michael Jackson continues. He was indeed one of the best dancers the world has ever seen.

His most famous dance move, 'Moonwalk,' remains an iconic move in the world of dance. The most exciting fact about him is that he was completely self-taught; that is, he did not receive professional training as a dancer.

Some of the iconic hits of Michale Jackson are 'Billie Jean,' 'Rock With You,' 'Beat It,' and 'The Enigma,' among various others.

FAQs

What is unique about modern dance?

Unlike traditional ballet, there are no structured steps in modern dance. Modern dancers express their emotions and moods through natural body movements.

How did modern dance come about?

Modern dance was a mark of defiance against the rigid norms of ballet and vaudeville.

Who invented modern dance?

The credit for introducing this new genre of art form is given to Isadora Duncan.

What type of music is used in modern dance?

Unlike jazz, which often uses contemporary music, modern dancers make use of non-western and classical music.

How modern dance helps your body?

With the help of modern dance, performers boost their muscular strength and stamina.

What is the most iconic element of modern dance?

Modern dance involves the use of emotions and moods to choreograph the dance routine of performers.

What do modern dancers wear?

There is no specific costume that modern dancers have to wear. Depending on the theme of the routine, the costumes can be changed at any time.

Is modern dance performed barefoot?

Modern dancers generally perform bare feet. You can often see the performers wearing dance shoes to avoid any damage to their feet.